The perfect party dress

Sometimes life just hands you something amazing when you're least expecting it. A week ago I got a phone call from Palm Springs Life magazine. They were calling to tell me that I had won their grand prize in a sweepstakes. They were flying me plus a guest down to Palm Springs, picking me up in a limo, sending me to a fashion show during their Fashion Week, and then also sending me to the Food & Wine Festival the next day. Unbelievable! I have won things in the past but nothing like an all-expenses paid vacation. What a score!

Since I was going to attend their Fashion Week, I knew I needed a party dress. Something that wasn't all black which is usual fare in San Francisco. I nabbed this adorable magenta 50s-style dress from Banana Republic. It's from their Mad Men collection. It arrived today and fits perfectly. Not only that, but it is made of 100% silk which is rare these days -- most dresses I see are polyester. I can't wait to wear it to Fashion Week!

Just a dot of color

I love cool housewares as much as I love great fashion. It really comes down to things that are a fabulous design. I am into decor, remodeling and renovating, although I am getting to the end of what is doable in my current residence. I'm feeling like I might have to start all over again! At any rate, I don't have room for any more dishes or glassware, but if I did, I would start with these awesome glasses by Jonathan Adler. I saw them online but I'm sure they are also in store. They come in this cool blue and also a sunny orange.

I'd bet on this pony

I have always loved the Alexander Wang Rocco bags. But then again, I am a huge fan of the Louis Vuitton Speedy and the Gucci Boston, so that's probably no surprise. The AW bags have all been leather up until this point. Finally -- something to shake things up a little -- the newest Rocco is made of ponyhair and leather! While this pushes it over the four-digit mark (much to my dismay), this gorgeous bag is on my short list.

Creamsicle colors for spring

Chanel is already thinking about spring nail colors. Although the names of the colors are nothing fancy (April, May, June) they do look like frosty drinks, don't they? I'm told they will be available for purchase in January 2012.

I'm singin' the blues

Don't get me wrong, I liked Chanel's Blue Satin when it came out. But I LOVE the Jeans de Chanel collection. They are not sparkly, the colors are very saturated, rich and creamy. I had to get a set of three. Get them while you can, as they are a limited edition and are already selling out. They're still available on the Chanel  website.

Fall is arriving and it's furry

Shearling coats often are a little too overpowering in my opinion and sometimes have too much of a Western look for my taste. However, I think this coat from Vince is more streamlined and chic. I love how it's paired with an infinity scarf and casual top. I can see myself wearing this often. The retail price is steep at $1,975, but maybe someday it will go on sale. A girl can dream, can't she?

Some cheap bling (relatively speaking)

I was shopping at my local Neiman Marcus today and chatted up the sales associate in the Chanel makeup department. She mentioned that nail polish is the new impulse purchase as opposed to lipstick. I thought this was very interesting, but absolutely true. Cosmetic companies have been bombarding consumers with new colors every few months. And it is easier to go wild with crazy colors on your nails than on your lips. (Remember those horrible gothy lipsticks that Chanel put out a few years ago? They didn't look good on anyone.)

And of course, a new bottle of nail polish is $25 at Chanel, far below the price of a new Chanel bag, or any designer handbag for that matter. Cheap bling.

As nail color is the new impulse buy, I had to participate. Chanel's Fall 2011 colors are in stores now, and I felt the draw of buying two new colors, Graphite and Peridot.

Soon I will need more nail polish storage, but colors like this make it worth it. 

On the hunt for the perfect off white bag

It is really difficult to find the "perfect" off white (or bone) handbag. Mostly because there are so many variations of the color. White is sometimes too stark, and often an off white handbag has too much of a yellow undertone in it for my liking. I started out with the Coach Kristin Hobo, but it had too much of a grey, almost dingy feeling to it. So back it went. Admittedly I also get annoyed when my Coach bags go almost directly to the outlet after they are released, but that's a story for another day. Maybe I will re-buy my Kristin again, but only if it is deeply discounted.

I've come across another coup by Alexander Wang, and I have been a big fan for quite some time. His Rocco bag can do no wrong (well, except I would love it if it were a bit lighter). I think this new color, which he is calling Bone, is a great warm color, which I prefer. Alas, the price tag I do not prefer, so I'm hoping I can snag this one on sale at some point.

Here comes the sun

I love a little flash of color here and there. And what is happier than a yellow bag? Yellow can be tricky, especially in clothing, as it can cross over into too-close-to-neon territory. But splashes of yellow are fun, never over the top and always make you smile. Kate Spade did a wonderful job with this bag -- just bright enough, a delicious texture, a great size and extremely functional. Sadly it has sold out on the website but something tells me it will show up elsewhere, and you can also probably spot on on eBay or Bonanzle at some point.

Now I'm craving a frothy, fruity drink

I know it's not spring everywhere, and a lot of people are still buried under snow. Thank goodness there's no snow where I live, and I'm even seeing some sunshine through the rain this morning. An inexpensive way to infuse the ol' wardrobe with some spring goodness is nail polish. Relatively cheap and a small pick-me-up. How could I resist Chanel's new spring line? It was impossible. Check out one of the great new shades, this one called Orange Fizz. I got it at my local Neiman Marcus but it's also available for purchase on the Chanel website.

Breaking the color rules of winter

I remember clearly when I was a kid how my grandmothers and other senior relatives followed "color rules" based on the season. That meant no white after Labor Day (and certainly not before Memorial Day), no patent leather except for in the spring, no pastels in the winter except for winter white, which of course then couldn't be worn in the spring or summer. It was dizzying trying to remember all the do's and don'ts.

Living in a warmer climate, these rules seems to not be as strict. There are some colors that seem to cross over between spring, summer, fall and winter. Like this bag by Alexander Wang. I managed to snag it on sale at Barney's although sadly it has sold out there. It's the Rocco bag in mustard. I think this could possibly be a year-round bag, as the color doesn't seem to fit a specific rule in the seasonal book.

Winter boot perfection

Hold the phone ... I found the perfect winter boots! Finally! Well they aren't for inclement weather but they are perfect for non snow days. Yummy black suede, a comfortable heel and the ultimate in style. The only thing that is temporarily holding me back is the price, but usually Christian Louboutin is worth it. These boots are available at Saks for $1,095. By hook or by crook I will find a way to add them to my wardrobe.

A no-hassle tassel

I'm generally not a fan of tassels or fringe -- I immediately think of a western theme gone wild in a bad way. Even the famed Balenciaga bags are sometimes too much for me. Ralph Lauren can be the same with his fringed pieces. If you add a great deep purple into the mix, though, I can be swayed. Case in point: the fabulous Coach Brynne. It's similar to a Gucci Boston or Louis Vuitton Speedy, but the leather is divine and the colors rich. The website shot of the purple doesn't do it justice -- it's much better looking in person. So of course you're not surprised that I added one to my collection.

Vince is my new boyfriend (sweater)

I've always been a huge fan of Vince sweaters. They are made well, they are easy to wash and they last a long time. Plus they are comfortable -- an added bonus! They are not cheap but I feel they are worth it. My choices for this fall and winter are as follows:

Bootie fall fever

Fall is almost here, and all the new boots in stores are looking great. I love to start off fall with new basics. Suede is great because the fabric gives and is more comfortable than many leather boots. On my immediate wishlist is a pair of Gucci brown suede boots on the DSW site and a pair of black suede Christian Louboutin boots that I saw at my local Saks.

A pink room as an adult

There was definitely a time where I didn't want to go too over the top or rock the boat. But when the opportunity came along for me to redo my home office, I decided to have some fun with it. After all, we only live once, right? I wanted the whole thing to be pink but my decorator talked me out of it, keeping accents pink. Here's a sneak peek of what it looks like, two of the walls are painted four shades of pink. I think it looks pretty cool and this is probably what I had in mind as a little girl but never got. Ah, the advantages of being an adult! All these shades of pink are from Benjamin Moore.

Blingy Boston

Who doesn't love shiny, silvery things? I know I love many things shiny. I had my eyes on this Gucci silver Joy Boston bag when I saw it in Neiman Marcus this past winter. Knowing it would probably go on sale, I waited. Thankfully it was worth the wait! This great bag is on sale in boutiques and of course on the Gucci website.

Meow meow, I mean Miu Miu!

I've always been a huge fan of Prada but had never ventured into the Miu Miu side of the equation. I think that is going to change shortly after seeing the latest Miu Miu prints. They've ventured into RTW with this particular print as well as on a clutch and ballet flats. I had better purchase these from Bergdorf Goodman before they're gone.

Things just keep getting cuter

I'm seeing a theme here ... Coach just keeps getting cuter. I snagged these thong sandals on the Macy's clearance rack and scored and extra 25% off with their current sale. Can't beat these for $35.

Not apologetic for pink

I love the color pink. Any color pink will do. I love baby fresh pink all the way to garish hot pink lacquer. Not necessarily in clothing that I wear, but a splash of color is an unexpected fun element in a room. Since I'm redoing my second bedroom and turning it into my office/lounge, I'm adding some Jonathan Adler accessories. Lacquered and hot pink, of course.

To add to the fun, I also got an initial pillow (in "L" of course) and a delicious-smelling candle, which has a graphic pattern on the outside which will match my graphic curtains. This is going to be the best small home office ever.